Method of and apparatus for manufacturing gas



A. F. KERSTING. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1919. 1,420,041 Patented June 29, 1922. 3 SHEETSSHEE1: l-

A. F. KERSTING.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, i919.

7 1,420,041. Patented June 20, 1922.-

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A. F. KERSTING.

v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS ron' MANUFACTURING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1919' 1 ,420,04'1 Patented June 20, 1922.

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, W HW Arroswtfo ALBERT F. KERSTING, 0F SPRING HILL, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO LAZEFNBY C. HAMLINK, 0E CLEVELAND, OHIQ, i

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

manner.

ToaZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. iinnsrrno, a citizen of the United States, resident of Spring Hill, county'ot Mobile, and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for lvianui acturing this, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in wl ich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. My invention relates to methods of and apparatus for, manutacturi g gas; and par-- ticularly to, improvements in the processes and apparatus for obtaining gas by the destructive distillation of coal. My improved process and apparatus is designed to procure, from the same amount of raw material previously used, a largely increasei'l amount of gas of equal quality. a

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain steps and means illustrating and embodying my invention, such disclosed steps and means constituting, however, but one oithe various methods by which my improved process may be carried out and but oneof the exemplifications of the means that may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 presents an end' elevation of a retort bench, taken from the charging side which is also the side, in the type of appara tus herewith disclosed, upon which l. locate my improved gas transfer means.

Figure 2 represents a broken vertical longitudinal section, taken in the plane. indicated by the line 11-11, Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents a broken vertical longitudinal section oi a common stop end retort equipped. with my improved apparatus, this illustration showing the use with only one verti *al tier of retorts;

Figure represents a rear elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure- 3.

My improved"process is based upon a correction and improvementin the following conditions attendant upon the manufacture of coal gas. The'gas retorts areinterinittently recharged with coal so that the volume of gas evolvedandits heating value varies from time to time. The volume is relatively greater and the heating value relatively higher during the early stagesot the car- Specifieation of Letters Patent. Patented June 2%}, 1922.

Application filed ma 2,

1919.. Serial no. 294,220.

bonizing period. Inasmuch as the heating conditions necessary to fix. the gas are constant for the area exposed, it results that the gas evolvedduring the early stages of a carbonizing period is not sufliciently fixed into permanent gas so that a condensation of a large percent of the hydrocarbon vapors, and their loss in the form of tar, result. On the contrary, during the last stages of any car bonizin'g period, the gases are exposed to too much fixation, resulting in their decomposition and the formation of free carbon. My process is designed to equalize these conditions and result in sufliciently fixed gas during the early stages and gas which is not over-fixed in the later stages of carbonization. The result is a large increase in gas of equal quality, such an increase as thirty per cent (30%), I have found in actual practice. Furthermore, my improved process results in keeping the oiftake pipes very clear of decomposed hydrocarbons which, in the processes heretofore used, tended to settle in said pipes in the form of carbon and thicktarry matter. These deposits in the ofi'take pipes have made it necessary to steam the retorts heretofore, or to run ammoniacal liquor :through the medium of complex pumps,

through the o'i'ltake pipes, or to clean the same in some other expensive manner and with a corresponding loss inproduction.

-.1-iccording to the usual practice, my process is so carried out that-the coal retorts in each group. shall be re-charged in sequence, the carbonizing periods being divided into equal time intervals. I have disclosed a bench of these retorts in Figures 1 and 2, the same being parallel vertical tiers oil? horizontally disposed retorts 4, a and 4: the'charging side of the same being upon the left'ot' Figure 2, and the offtake side of the same upon the right of said figure. .These severalretorts are subjected to the same furnace conditions, there being no differential heating by the furnace of charges which are in different stages of carbonization. A gas transfer or equalizingmeans forming part-of my invention is disposed upon the charging side of the retort bench, in the form of apparatus disclosed in said figures, although it would be possible to locate said means upon either side of the retort bench, provided the same are at the end opposite the regular final gas oiitake end. Furthermore,

30 or desirable.

my improved process is equally practicable in operation in connection with the common stop end retort which has only one monthpiece for charging and discharging same, as

in this case it ispossible to penetrate the back wall of the retort as plainly shown in Figures 3 and 4. This application of my invention will behei'einafter described in detail. My invention is also applicable to the modern 1O coke oven with its gas offtake at the top.

Said as tiansfermeans consistof avertical transfer pipe 1 connectedbythe gas conduits 2 to the several retort-charging mouthpieces 3. 3 and 3 In the form ofconstruction illustrated in Figures land 2 thistransfer pipe 1 is located between two parallel tiers of retorts 4,4 and 4 but in the case of one tier it is located laterally thereof, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and any'other suitable arrangement serves the purpose. The several gas conduits are provided with valves 5 adapted to be actuated by a quarter turn of suitable levers 6. Hand holes are providedin the front face of the transfer pipe casting 1 and provided with cover plates 7,

the use of the apparatus hereinbefore de-' scribed carried out as follows:

ierssuming that the retorts 1', 4E and 4 have b eeircl'iarged'in sequence and at intervals of equal length in theorder stated, the valves 40 5 connecting the transfer pipe 1 and the retorts 1 and i are opened immediately folloivingthe' charging of thereto'rts sgand left open during the earlystages of the carbonizing period of. the retorts 4, one-tliird 'oi said period, -for instance,'resulting in a transfer of apart or all oi'the evolved from the retorts st to the retorts it; this transfer of gas being the result of actualpressure ditlerence between'retorts at and 1, and aided, it desired by the steam jet 8 or other suitable means. A great pressure differential exists between the retorts 1 and 1 and is caused by 'the high relative production of gas in the retorts l during thefirst stage of the carboniz- 'ing period. Likewise immediately following "the recl'iarging of the retorts 4:, they are put into communication with theretorts 4 for a like length '01" tiineduring the early stages of the carbonizing period. resulting in a (50 transfer of. a part or all of'theevolved gas lrom theretorts 4; to the retorts 4 In like manner, a part or all of the gasevolved during the' early stages of the carbo'nizi'ng period in theretorts 4: is transferred to the retorts (55 1-, this being the condition actually illustratthe action of the steam jet 8. Of course, if

the transterofthe gasin the pipe 1 is downwardly, as, for instance, from retort 4 to retort 4- and it is desired positively to aid the transfer, then the upper steam jet 8 or any other downwardly-acting tansferaidingmeans will be utilized. It will be understood, of course, that the pairs of retorts 4:4, i'l' and i -4 would not necessarilyworlr together, but that the arrangement of apparatus herein shown is merely suggestive of one practicable way of carrying out the process and that the transfer might be, for instance, from the lower left-hand retort 4-. to the upper right-hand retort 4, or any other relative arrangement, the control of the gas passing through the transfer pipe 1 bein such that any two of the retorts may he put=into direct communication. By direct communication is meant communication without passing through a third or other retorts.

I wish to point out that my improvedprocess and apparatus should not be confused with the well-known practice of steaming an oldest retort without the use of transfer con nections 01 passing water gas previously made through said retort, for the purposeot increasing the yield of permanentgas from said retort, such processes and means being entirely diilerent from my improved process of equalizing the volume and heating value of the gas evolved during the early stages of the carboni'zing period with the later parts thereof, and applicable, in the desired degree and with any desired relative arrangement, to all of the retorts of a plant.

The improved results of equalizing the volume and heating quality of gas obtained bythe means and process hereinbetore described isalsoyunder the following conditions, realized without the use of transfer connections, the gas ofl take and cokeofftake being located at the same end of the retort. In the use of a vertical or horizontal retort fed contiiniously with fresh coal at the end opposite the regular gas otftalre end and the colre discharge end, the coke being also discliarged continuously, no claim, however, being included, in this case to this application of the invention.

It the application of the invention is to retorts which are charged with coal interinittently and a corresponding part of coke is discharged intermittently instead of charging a whole fresh charge of coal and discharging the total coke, as was presumedin the description hereinb'efore of the operation of the apparatus shown in-Figures 1 and 2, such modified application will be perfectly "evident from Figures 1 and 2. The transfer "of gas 111 the early stages of the carboniznrg period in sequence from the retorts to that retort in which the coal is most completely carbonized would be effected according to the same practice above described.

Referring in detail to the application shown in Figures 3 and 4, common stop end retorts are indicated by the ordinals 4, 4 and r having the annular mouth piece 9 9 9 for charging coal and discharging coke. lhe gas offtakes are indicated by the ordinals 1U 10 and 10 The rear wall 13 is penetrated by the iron nipple 11 opening into the clay nipple pipe 12. Packing 14 is provided for securing a gas tight joint. A cross fitting between the gas conduit 2 and the iron nipple 11 is indicated by the ordinal 15. The

gas transfer is efi'ected in the same manner, as previously described as regards the apparatus disclosed in Flgures 1 and 2, the

actual stage being the same as that shown in said Figures 1 and 2, viz., the transfer of from retort 1 to retort 4 during the early carbonizing stage in retort By the term retort, it is intended to cover any type of retort, oven or chamber, by whatever name called, in which coal. is subjected to dry distillation for the recovery of gas.

What I claim is:

1. In a process of manufacturing coal gas, the steps which comprise, charging in sequence, with coal, a plurality of retorts; initially establishing communication from each freshly charged retort through a second retort containing more completely carbonized fuel to a takeoff conduit; and subsequently disestablishing the communication between said retorts and delivering gas di root from said first retort to a take off conduit.

2. In a process of manufacturing coal gas,

the steps which comprise, charging in sequence, with coal, a plurality of retorts; carbonizing the coal in said retorts simultaneously; passing gas from each freshly charged retort during the early portion of the carbonizing period thereof, through the retort in which the coal is most completely carbonized to a take off conduit; passing all the gas from each retort direct to a take off conduit during the intermediate portion of the carbonization period thereof and passing gas from a freshly charged retort through each retort during the final portion of the carbonization period thereof.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts; a gas-transfer pipe adapted to communicate with each of said retorts; and means for controlling the transfer pipe so that any two of said retorts may be put in direct communi cation for the transfer of gas from one to the other.

4. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts; a gas transfer pipe positioned adjacently one end of said retort series; gas conduits connecting said retorts, respectively, and said transfer pipe; and independently operated valves disposed in said conduits, respectively; said transfer pipe being adapted to communicate only with said gas conduits.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts provided with a gas offtake at one end; a gas transfer pipe adapted to communicate with each of said retorts at the other end; and means for controlling the transfer pipe so that any two of said retorts may be put in direct communication.

6. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts provided with a gas olftalre at one end; a gas transfer pipe positioned adjacently the other end of said retort series and adapted to communicate with each of said retorts at said last-mentioned end; gas conduits connecting said retorts, respectively, and said transfer pipe; and independently operated valves disposed in said conduits, respectively,

7. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts; a gas transfer pipe adapted to communicate with each of said retorts; means for controlling the transfer pipe so that any two of said retorts may be put in direct communication for transfer of gas from one to the other; and steam jets disposed in said transfer pipe for aiding the gas transfer.

8. In apparatus for manufacturing coal gas, the combination of a series of retorts provided with a gas oiftake at one end; a transfer pipe adapted to communicate with each of said retorts atthe other end; means for controlling the transfer pipe so that any two of said retorts may be put in direct communication; and steam jets disposed in said transfer pipe for aiding the gas transfer.

Signed by me, this 4th day of A ril, 1919.

' ALBERT F. KER TING. 

